THE LATEST ARTICLES
MEDIA
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January 7, 2022
The Times & Athletic Make It Official
My chat with Times C.E.O. Meredith Kopt-Levien, plus reporting on the latest news at CNN and BenSmithCo.
MEDIA
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January 4, 2022
News on the Ben Smith News
Despite the sudden, and seemingly out-of-nowhere news that Ben Smith was leaving the Times, and that Justin Smith was stepping down as C.E.O. of Bloomberg Media, the Two Smiths had been quietly discussing their new media ambitions, on and off, for years. And it may take a decade to pull off. I chatted with the Smiths on the day of their big reveal.
HOLLYWOOD
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December 29, 2021
The Great Post-Trump Cable News Correction
The inside conversation (and a few burning questions) about CNN’s impending pivot, the trouble at "The View," and the ballad of Suzanne Scott.
HOLLYWOOD
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December 22, 2021
Iger’s Next Act and the Times-Athletic Tango
Deal murmurs, M&A rumblings, the Zaz rumor mill, Iger’s next moves, and other insights into the media in-crowd’s inside conversation.
MEDIA
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December 17, 2021
The Times & The Athletic Are Getting Hot and Heavy
The Athletic has now entered into exclusive talks with The New York Times about a sale. Here’s the logic.
HOLLYWOOD
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December 15, 2021
The Chris Wallace Tea Leaves & Jim vs. Jonah
Is Zucker’s poaching of Chris Wallace a harbinger of CNN+’s centrism and maturity, or a trophy hire to buy time for a new streamer. Or (hint!) both, and then some?
HOLLYWOOD
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December 10, 2021
Zaz Moves, a Kotick Question, and BriWi Speculation
Three questions, predictions, and some insider gossip about potential media moves and acquisitions in the new year.
HOLLYWOOD
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December 8, 2021
Notes on the Cuomo Scandal
The existential crisis of cable news extends beyond the firing of Chris Cuomo and the exit of Rachel Maddow. Their replacements in the 9 p.m. hour will indicate how CNN and MSNBC can reposition their brands in the streaming era.
HOLLYWOOD
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December 3, 2021
Can Jake Tapper Get 9 P.M.?
Inside the post-Cuomo, post-Maddow primetime parlor game at CNN and MSNBC as the talent well runs dry amid the new streaming order.
HOLLYWOOD
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December 1, 2021
In the Room… at Iger’s Goodbye Dinner
As Disney’s charismatic leader completes his choreographed exit, the mood inside Burbank approaches a state of dread. Plus: Is Chris Cuomo finito at David Zaslav’s CNN?